Radioprotective benefits of Reishi Mushroom (SQ-70)

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using Reishi mushroom (scientific name Ganoderma lucidum) for more than 2,000 years to promote good health and longevity. There is also a great deal of scientific research that supports many medicinal uses of Reishi [1], which is also called ‘Lingzhi’ and ‘The God of Fungi’.

The mushroom contains a wide range of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, polysaccharide-peptide complex, triterpenes, germanium, sterols and trace elements. The combination of all these compounds balances and heals the body, regulates the immune system and makes Reishi an incredible fungus with immense anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and anti-aging potential.

This article sums up its overall benefits very well, noting that these ingredients are responsible for a number of health promoting effects including “immunomodulation, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, chemo-preventive, antitumor, chemo and radio protective, sleep promoting, antibacterial, antiviral (including anti-HIV), hypolipidemic, anti-fibrotic, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-androgenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-herpetic, antioxidative and radical-scavenging, anti-aging, hypoglycemic, estrogenic activity and anti-ulcer properties.” [2]

In this article, we are going to discuss how Reishi mushroom can provide amazing protection against the effects of ionizing radiation.

Effects of Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation causes serious oxidative damage by generating free radicals. These reactive oxygen species impair fragile cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA – causing undesirable changes in the way a cell functions. These kinds of alterations in cellular structure and functions are also caused by UV radiations and other environmental toxins that we are exposed to almost daily.

DNA damage is the most harmful form of damage inflicted by radiation. While most of the damage is caused by free radical mechanism, radiation can also directly collide with DNA molecules. Ongoing exposure to even low doses of ionizing radiation can cause all kinds of damage to the DNA molecule. It can cause single strand breaks (where free radicals break one strand of DNA) or double strand breaks (where ionizing radiation causes damage to both strands of DNA).

While your body is naturally equipped to repair single strand breaks most of the time, it is the double strand breaks that are hard to repair, and often result in faulty repair that can cause mutations in the DNA. Mutations can make cells divide uncontrollably (which can result in cancer) and cause other chromosomal abnormalities that can be passed down to other generations. If there is massive damage to the DNA, the cell may trigger its own death to avoid mutation.  

The combined effect of DNA damage and oxidation of lipids, proteins and mitochondria increases the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, infertility, poor immunity and many other diseases. High levels of radiation often cause symptoms like hair loss, internal bleeding and nausea that are visible immediately after exposure. However, cancer and cardiovascular disease may take several years to manifest. In fact, chronic oxidative stress and resulting inflammation are majorly responsible for these late post-radiation effects. [3]

The long-term negative effects of low dose radiations can be seen in the case of Chernobyl and the recent Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. [4]. It is, therefore, important to deal with the excess production and activation of free radicals that cause major oxidative stress over long-term.

How can you protect your tissues and DNA from radiation damage, whether through accidental radiation exposure or exposure during radiotherapy of cancers and tumors? Your body is quite efficient at repairing itself with its in-built anti-oxidant and DNA repair mechanisms. These systems help the body to combat toxic assaults. But looking at the massive source of toxic exposure – in the form of pollution, radiation, pesticides, UV radiation, heavy metals, additives and preservatives in processed food, etc. – one thing is certain in that cells are going through non-stop disturbance and your body needs some additional antioxidant support to counter this, which brings us back to Reishi mushroom.

Studies show that Reishi could be extremely useful in preventing radiation induced oxidative damage and resulting disorder and disease in the body, and credit its antioxidant properties and DNA repairing ability for these effects.

How Reishi Mushroom protects against radiation damage

Polysaccharides and triterpenes

Fruiting bodies of the mushroom contain plentiful of phytochemicals. Among these, polysaccharides and triterpenes have been recognized as the major bio-active compounds responsible for the mushroom’s antioxidant benefits. [5]

Several studies done on mice also strongly suggest that polysaccharides as well as triterpenes from Reishi mushroom make it radioprotective. [6] [7].

This 2016 study done on albino mice reported that total triterpenes from the mushroom protected against gamma radiation in multiple ways: [8]

• Protected the mice from oxidative stress
• Reduced the oxidation of lipids and proteins in both liver and brain tissues when given before the whole-body irradiation
• Restored the activities of antioxidant enzyme as well as had positive influence on the glutathione levels in the liver and brain
• Prevented single and double strand DNA breaks

Though this study demands further investigation and human trials to confirm the findings, it revealed “the potential therapeutic use of Ganoderma total triterpenes as a natural radio-protector to prevent hazardous effects of accidental radiation exposures.”

Antioxidant peptides

Reishi also contains peptides that show promising anti-oxidant activities. In fact, some research shows that G. lucidum peptide (GLP) is what is majorly responsible for the mushroom antioxidant capability.  A 2004 study concluded that “GLP could play an important role in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in biological systems through its antioxidant, metal chelating, and free radical scavenging activities.” [9]

The antioxidant composition in Reishi mushroom is amazing as your body can quickly absorb these substances, thereby raising plasma total antioxidant activity. In addition, polysaccharides found in Reishi can also increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, that you need to effectively fight the oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Role of Reishi mushroom in DNA protection and repair

A lot of studies suggest that Reishi, thanks again to its triterpenes and beta glucan content, could be very effective in preventing cellular damage triggered by radiation.

Triterpenes in DNA protection

In this study, the total triterpenes from the Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) was evaluated for its role in preventing membrane damage (by gamma radiation) in rat liver mitochondria. The outcome of triterpenes on DNA strand breaks were also considered; both in vitro and human cells.   

The study found that the total triterpene content could prevent membrane damage in rats and also reduce DNA strand breaks in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The results indicated “the significant effectiveness of Ganoderma triterpenes in protecting the DNA and membrane damages consequent to the hazardous effects of radiation. The findings suggest the potential use of Ganoderma triterpenes in radio therapy.” [10]

Polysaccharides in DNA protection and strand break repair

This study showed that polysaccharides from Reishi enhances the repair of DNA strand breaks in human cells; concluding that “The polysaccharides from G. lucidum enhance the repair process, which is a promising approach for protection from radiation exposure, but a detailed study of the molecular mechanism is needed for further application.” [11]

Yet another study suggested that beta glucan from Reishi possessed considerable radioprotective activity and ability to repair DNA in human lymphocytes cells. [12]

Summing up radioprotective effects of Reishi

Reishi mushroom is a treasure trove of many bio-active compounds. Out of these, polysaccharides, triterpenes and peptides show amazing antioxidant properties that help prevent oxidative damage and:

1. Lowers inflammation
2. Increases the levels and activity of anti-oxidant enzymes in the body
3. Protects DNA from damage
4. Enhances the ability of our body to the repair DNA strand breaks (induced by radiation)

References:

1. Batra P, Sharma AK, Khajuria R. Probing Lingzhi or Reishi medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (higher Basidiomycetes): a bitter mushroom with amazing health benefits. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 2013
2. Sanodiya BS, Thakur GS, Baghel RK, Prasad GB, Bisen PS. Ganoderma lucidum: a potent pharmacological macrofungus. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 2009
3. Szumiel I. Ionizing radiation-induced oxidative stress, epigenetic changes and genomic instability: the pivotal role of mitochondria. Int J Radiat Biol. 2015
4. Azimzadeh et al. Proteome analysis of irradiated endothelial cells reveals persistent alteration in protein degradation and the RhoGDI and NO signalling pathways. Internation Journal of Radiation Biology. 2017
5. Kan et al. Antioxidant activity of polysaccharide extracted from Ganoderma lucidum using response surface methodology. Int J Biol Macromol. 2015
6. Pillai et al. Polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum occurring in Southern parts of India, protects radiation induced damages both in vitro and in vivo. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2008
7. Pillai et al.  Mushroom beta glucan: potential candidate for post irradiation protection. Mutat Res. 2013 Mar 18; 751(2):109-15.
8. Sun et al. Novel antioxidant peptides from fermented mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. J Agric Food Chem. 2004
9. Sun et al. Novel antioxidant peptides from fermented mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. J Agric Food Chem. 2004
10. Smina et al. Protection of radiation induced DNA and membrane damages by total triterpenes isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst. Chemico-Biological Interactions. 2015
11. Pillai et al. Enhancement of repair of radiation induced DNA strand breaks in human cells by Ganoderma mushroom polysaccharides. Food Chemistry. 2010.
12. Pillai et al. Fungal beta glucan protects radiation induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Ann Transl Med. 2014

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